AS AN aftershock of COVID-19, world crude oil prices are falling to only $23.75 per barrel. Expect demand for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the oil-rich countries and for sea-based deployment to fall in the coming months. More OFWs may likely be coming home, while outgoing OFWs would have to find work elsewhere.
This early, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Economic and Development Authority should be ready for more OFW balikbayans and the consequent economic impact.
Is it possible for DOLE to look for other countries where OFWs can be deployed? Even at this time when countries are closing borders due to COVID-19? Tough luck.
Perhaps the Build-Build-Build program should have jobs for the technically-skilled OFWs – Pinoy engineers, architects, plumbers, electricians, etc. Bottom-line: create more domestic job opportunities.
Also, it has now become even more urgent for the Senate to approve its version of the OFW Department bill. An OFW Department can focus solely on the needs and concerns of our overseas workers.
The House of Representatives already did its part by approving House Bill (HB) 5832 on third and final reading. OFWs and migrant Filipinos who have established long-term residence overseas have been waiting for too long for the creation of a department dedicated to addressing their needs and aspirations.
Lost in the news these past few weeks was the House’s approval of HB 5832; this brings us one step closer to making the new department a reality.
HB 5832 has many similarities with the six bills pending in the Senate for consolidation into a substitute bill. After the Senate approves its counterpart to HB 5832, harmonizing the two bills should not take long. Best case scenario the new law would be approved before this year ends. If there are some hitches along the way, probably by this time next year, the new law would be approved.
At present, there is no single body managing OFWs. There are many – and the result at times is uncoordinated response to OFW-related matters. And unnecessary confusion. There’s the DOLE, DFA, Philippine Overseas Workers Administration, and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. OFWs have to deal with all of them. Whew!
